Middle of the Vines Vineyard Tours in Mystic, CT

If you’re looking for a new and unique tour to check out in Mystic, Connecticut, look no further than Middle of the Vines Vineyard Tours. This tour is a great way to explore vineyards and wineries in southeastern Connecticut. The tour provides transportation, food, drinks, history, and an overall great time.

What To Know Before You Book

• Pickup is at Sift Bake Shop. Look for the black Middle of the Vines van! It’s clearly marked so you won’t be wondering which van it is.

Pin

• The trip includes three vineyards and is about 5 hours long. This is from the time you’re picked up to the time you’re dropped back off at the pickup location.
• You get one drink or tasting per vineyard. You’ll get a token to redeem your drink at each vineyard! While this is a vineyard tour, there are drink options besides wine. Your token is also good for beer or cider if the vineyards offer them.

Pin

• Lunch is included in the ticket price. It is provided by Sift Bake Shop, and there’s truly no bad options. You’ll fill out a form for your lunch order.

Pin

• Snacks and water are provided. This is great to help keep yourself hydrated and to make sure the alcohol doesn’t hit you too hard. I always try to make sure I eat enough when I’m drinking to make sure I don’t feel awful. Nobody likes being dehydrated and having an empty stomach, so the food and water are a great addition to this tour. The water is available any time throughout the tour and the snacks come out at the last stop.

Pin

• There’s free and paid parking available in Mystic close to Sift. If you’re looking to park right by Sift, there is a paid parking lot maintained by the Mystic Museum of Art right on Water Street. When I went, I parked at the Union Baptist Church, which offers free parking to the community when the church isn’t using it. Typically, the only time it’s not available to the public is on Sundays from 6am to 12pm for Sunday Worship. You can find more information about parking there on their website. A parking lot is your best option since most of the street parking in downtown is only 2-hour parking.
• They offer options for those who don’t drink. If you don’t drink, you can still enjoy this tour. You might be wondering, why? On the tour, you’ll learn about the history of Connecticut wine and the vineyards you visit. It’s really fascinating. Also, the vineyards themselves are really gorgeous. If you don’t drink, your token will go towards a non-alcoholic drink at each stop. Middle of the Vines also offers a credit for guests who don’t plan to drink.
• Bring cash to tip. Tips are not covered in your ticket. Be sure to bring cash to tip at the vineyards and to tip your tour guide if you enjoyed your trip. Some vineyards do have Venmo as an option to tip, but don’t expect each spot to have that as an option.
• Give yourself plenty of time to get to Mystic. Expect there to be traffic. This is a popular tourist area, and it’s not uncommon for there to be traffic as you make your way into downtown. If you get there early, downtown is walkable and you can check out the shops or Mystic River Park before your tour. Just make sure you don’t get trapped on the wrong side of the river due to the bridge being up. The bridge opens regularly at 40 minutes past the hour from 7:40am to 6:40pm.
• You do not need to be with a group. I went completely on my own. So, if you’re a solo traveler, this is still a great option! It’s a great way to explore the area without needing to drive yourself and it offers a chance to meet others who share similar interests with you.
• You will book the tour online. Tours are booked directly on the Middle of the Vines website.

My Experience On The Tour

I did my tour on a Friday. The van itself was extremely comfortable, and it had AC, which was definitely needed. It was 90°F and a van without AC would have been unpleasant.

Pin

On the way to the first vineyard, we got to hear a bit about the history of Connecticut wine. I’d been to vineyards around Connecticut before, but I never really knew anything about the history. I found it super interesting!

I don’t want to spoil the information for you, so I’ll just leave you with the fact I found the most interesting: Stonington has a slightly longer growing season than the rest of Connecticut because it actually faces the Atlantic Ocean and not just Long Island Sound like the rest of Connecticut’s shoreline.

Stop 1: Stonington Vineyards

The first stop of my tour was Stonington Vineyards in Stonington, Connecticut. I was excited to see that they offered wine slushies! I got the Frosé, which was honestly so good. Everyone else on the tour got a mix of the two frozen wines that the vineyard offered, and those were a hit.

Pin

It was at this spot that we had our lunch provided by Sift Bake Shop. I picked the Roasted Turkey Sandwich, which had turkey, brie, green apple, spinach, and cranberry aioli on a croissant. It’s definitely a sandwich I’d eat again! And, it was a fitting meal to enjoy at a vineyard.

Pin

Due to the high temperatures, I stayed inside during most of the hour that we were there. But, the outdoor area here is absolutely beautiful. If the heat wasn’t so oppressive, I would have loved to spend time outside.

Pin

Pin

Stop 2: Preston Ridge Vineyard

The next stop was Preston Ridge Vineyard in Preston, Connecticut. This vineyard has both a great indoor area and outdoor area. Again, I spent most of my time inside due to the extreme heat. I loved the vibes inside this vineyard.

Pin

At this stop, I got another Frosé. This one also hit the spot, and it was just what I needed to help combat the heat. Full disclosure: I’d never had a wine slushie until taking this tour. But, I can now say that I am a huge fan of them! That was a fun thing I learned about myself on this tour.

Pin

While I did stay inside with the AC for most the hour that we were here, I did step outside to take in the views for a couple minutes. They have a great back deck outside that overlooks the vineyard below.

Pin

Stop 3: Kingdom of the Hawk Vineyard

Our third and final stop of the trip was Kingdom of the Hawk Vineyard in North Stonington, Connecticut. This spot offers a great indoor and outdoor space, much like the other vineyards that we visited on the trip.

Pin

This spot didn’t have any wine slushies so I got a regular rosé. It definitely wasn’t as refreshing as the slushies, but it was still great.

Pin

It was at this stop that we were provided snacks! The snacks were a great way to end the trip. I’m a bit of a picky eater, and there were plenty of snacks that I personally loved. I went with a bag of Garden Salsa Sunchips. They were one of my favorite snacks growing up and I hadn’t had them in years.

Once the hour was up, we loaded back into the van to head back to the pickup location!

Is This Tour Worth Doing?

Honestly, I loved my time on this tour. I’m a bit of an introvert, and despite going as a solo guest, the owner Raylene made me feel right at home! She is a large part of what makes this tour such a great experience. You can tell she’s put a lot of time and care into creating this tour. The proof is in the details.

This tour takes you to some awesome vineyards. I’d been to these vineyards before because my brother likes to do the Connecticut Wine Trail, but it was a lot of fun getting to vineyard hop with a group! The vibes were laid back, and we were given plenty of time to enjoy our included drink at each stop. Nothing felt rushed, and I’m a notoriously slow eater and drinker.

I think one of my favorite things was getting to learn about the history of Connecticut wine during the tour. I spend a lot of time diving into Connecticut’s history by visiting its many historic sites and historic towns, but this was the first time I’d learned anything about the history of wine and vineyards in the state! The information was a good mix of history and science.

Ready to book? Head over to the Middle of the Vines website!